Shuttle actuating mechanism for narrow ware looms



Aug. 4, 1931.

E. 4R. HOLMES SHUTTLE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR NARROW WARE LOOMS Filed Feb.. 14, 1930 LIVES) A FDR/v5 V5 Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT orties ELBRIDGE R. HOLMES, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG'NOR TO CROMPTON 8c KNOWLES LOOM WORKS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS SHUTTLE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR NAR-ROW WARE LOOMS Application filed February 14, 1930. Serial No. 428,534.

This invention relates to means for actuating the shuttles in a narrow ware loom of the type in which the shuttles are positively actuated throughout the full extent of their flight. In order to gain capacity in such looms, it is sometimes found necessary to stagger the shuttles in upper and lower series, and in some kinds of weaving it is also found desirable to move all of the shuttles in the same direction at the same time.

It is the general object of my invention to provide improved means for thus moving the upper and lower series of shuttles all in the same direction at the same time.

More specifically, my invention relates to the provision of a single flexible actuating connection by which the two series of shutties may be thus moved.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A Ypreferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of portions of a narrow ware loom embodying my improvements; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional front elevation. y

Referring to the drawings, I have shown portions of a loom which is in general somewhat similar to the loom disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,462,549, issued July 24, 1923.

In the drawings, I have shown portions of a loom frame 10 and a lay 11 mounted to swing about the axis of a rock shaft 12. Two series of shuttles S and S are mounted on the lay 11, the shuttles S forming an upper series and the shuttles S forming a lower series.

Reeds 15 are provided for each upper and lower shuttle and the reeds and shuttle positions are staggered lengthwise of the lay, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the strips of fabric formed by the upper and lower shuttles will be alternately disposed at the breast of the loom.

Each shuttle is positively operated by a common form of actuating mechanism comprising a series of pinions 17, each pinion engaging rack teeth along one face of the associated shuttle and each pinion being also engaged and positively rotated b y rack bars 2O and 2l slidably mounted on the lay l1 and on an upper cross bar or hand rail 22 forming a part thereof.

My improvements relate particularly to the novel means which I have provided for moving the rack bars 20 and 21 longitudinaliy.l For this purpose, a chain or other flexible connection 30 is secured to the left hand end of the lower rack bar 20, as viewed in Fig. 1, and is passed over a'guidc pulley 3l and secured to the periphery of a pulley 32 mounted on a member carried by the rock shaft 12.

A second chain or flexible member is secured at one end to a second and smaller peripheral surface of the pulley 32. The chain 35 is passed through the hollow rock shaft 12 and is connected to a bar 36 slidable in bearings 37.

A member is secured to the middle portion of the sliding bar 36 and is provided with a transverse guideway 39 which receives a roll or stud 40 mounted at the end of a crank arm 41. The arm 41 is secured on a transverse shaft 42 provided with a gear 43 through rwhich it may be continuously rotated from any suitable power counections.

As the shaft 42 rotates, the roll 40 effects a longitudinal reciprocating motion of the bar 3G which is communicated through the chains 35 and 30 to the lower rack bar 20 and is effective to positively move the rack bar 20 to the left.

A second chain 45 is secured to the right hand end of the lower rack bar 2O and passes around guide pulleys 46, 47 and 48 all supported on the lay 11. The lower end of the chain 45 is connected to the periphery of a pulley 50, corresponding to the pulley 32 previously described and connected by a second chain 52 to the right hand end of the sliding bar 3G. Provision is thus made for positively moving the rack bar 20 to the right as the bar 36 is reciprocated.

The right hand end of the upper rack bar 21 is connected at 54 to the chain 45 previously described and is thus positively reciprocated in both directions. It will be noted that the provision of the eXtra guide pulleys 46 and 47 at the right hand end of the lay provides an upper run of the chain 45 adjacent the upper rack bar 2l and that the chain in the upper run moves at the same speed in the same direction and at the same Y time as that portion of the chain 45 that is connected to the rack bar 20. Accordingly, when the rack bar 20 is moved in a given direction, the rack bar 2l receives a corresponding and equal movement, also in the same direction.

Consequently all of the shuttles in bothseries are given equal movements in the same direction and at the same time. and this result is eected by extremely simple mechanical means.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, l do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what l claim is:

1. ln a narrow ware loom, a lay, a plurality of shuttles mounted in upper and lower series on said lay, a separate rack bar for reciprocating each series of shuttles, said two rack bars being substantially spaced apart vertically, actuating mechanism for said raclrbars, a flexible connection from said actuating mechanism to one end of one rack bar, and a second lieXibleA connection from said actuatin mechanism to the opposite end of one o said rack bars and said second flexible connection being also connected at an intermediate point to the associated end of the second rack bar.

2. The combination in a narrow ware loom as set Jforth in claim l, in which said second chain connection is twice reversed between its points of attachment to said two rack bars.

3. The combination in a narrow ware loom as set forth in claim l, in which said second chain connection is supported on three guide pulleys at one end oil the lay and is twice reversed between its point of attachment to said two rack bars.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto ailiXed my signature.

ELBRIDGE R. HOLMES.

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